DANCING DIPLOMACY

RAJ SHEKHAR JHA

It was not his winning rhetoric but his shaking legs with the children that stole the heart of India. The affable Obama’s radiated warmth and friendship, seldom displayed by Indian politicians. It brought smile on the faces of millions of people across the world, looking for peace and prosperity.

President George Bush tried playing drums during a visit to an African country and found it works and works better and faster.

Now many more presidents and prime ministers visiting India will take to the dance diplomacy but don’t expect Pakistan president Zardari to come and dance with Sonia Gandhi or Manmohan Singh to ease indo-Pak tensions and establish better relationship.

SANJANA SAKSENA

Defining Moment

President Obama considers US-India partnership as “one of the defining relationships” of the 21st century. His just concluded visit proves the point.

Started on a sensitive note, Obama failed to mention Pakistan in his introductory speech from the iconic Taj hotel, the site of the horrific terror attack on 26/11. The victims’ families and survivors were expecting at least a presidential condemnation of the inhuman act. Nevertheless, the issue came up when a Xaviers student asked him a question.

By landing in India’s financial capital, Mumbai, the president sent out the right signal that the visit is more of business than protocol.

PRERN BARUAH

All state visits are great photo-ops and lofty rhetoric. Nevertheless, President Obama came with an entourage of 200 CEOs not for sight-seeing, of course, but to do business with India. That India has emerged as a global business destination is indeed undeniable.

The President sent a strong message to Islamabad when he said terrorists having “safe havens” within its borders is “unacceptable”. He asked Pakistan to bring the terrorists behind the Mumbai attacks to book.

On Obama’s own admission, more agreements were concluded during this visit than any other. But the most important of most all is the nuclear deal and the lifting of the ban on hi-tech imports needed for ISRO, BDL and DRDO.

Juhi chakroborty

Words, Words, Words!

President’s Barack Obama’s stay at the Taj did send out a powerful message to the world. But what India needs is not symbolism or the kind of rhetoric excellence that he displayed in Parliament but firm action to force Pakistan to drop its terror agenda.

The President’s remark that Mumbai is a symbol of the incredible energy and optimism that defines India is indeed a great tribute. And by interacting with children of four orphanages, the US first lady, Michelle Obama, touched on a very sensitive chord. She communicated the importance of education to countries competing for prosperity.

MONIKA TRIPATHY

ACT, OBAMA, ACT

It is heart-warming to see that the Obamas prize good relations with India. Notwithstanding his eloquence in Parliament, his economic policies are skewed against Indians, to create jobs for Americans.

American Presidents are known crowd-charmers. Bill Clinton and President Eisenhower and now Obama mesmerized Indian crowds. John F. Kennedy, the most admired of American Presidents, was shot dead before he could visit India. But Presidential charisma alone will not help build up good relations. To say the least, Obama’s actions must match his eloquence.

KASHIKA SAXENA

REALITY BYTE

Political pundits read too much into the much-hyped Obama’s three-day visit to India. When Obama declared India a world power and the fastest growing economy, it was music to Indian ears. And when he declared the US support to India’s claim for the UNSC seat, it touched a chord of our national pride.

But remember while India and the US are ideological allies, the US and China are business allies. The fact remains that it took two years for him to visit India after assuming office which shows where India stands in the scheme of things.

SANYA AHUJA

THE NAKED TRUTH

The US President came to India determined to take something back home – jobs for jobless Americans. India and the US signed a $10 billion trade deal, meant to create 50,000 jobs. It would require 300,000 new jobs a month to make a dent on unemployment at the rate of 10% annually.

Issues like Kashmir, terrorism, UNSC are mere talking points, or metaphorically the fig leaves to cover the naked truth.

NIKSOMANIA ON FACE BOOK

If you are on Face Book and yet missed Niks’ spurt of creativity, you indeed have missed something. Many of those who read The Times of India did so for R K Laxman’s cartoons. Many of those who subscribed to Shanker’s Weekly did so to regale themselves on Shanker’s immortal works. Today the lives of many Netizens are enlivened because of Niks’ artistic impulses.

Started acting at the age of nine, the creative spark in Niks developed right early. He won many prizes in essay-writing, short story-writing, composing poems, painting, acting and ottam thullal (kind of dance).

Niks is blessed with the best of friends and the best of teachers; often his teachers became his friends. His ambition is to become a playwright and author. Don’t be surprised if you see Niks on the screen because artistically he belongs to the world of acting. His wife would be extremely lucky as he is a good cook. He is fond of playing with children.

A CATASTROPHE CALLED DEMOCRACY

RAJ SHEKHAR JHA

The real catastrophe is not that thousands of crores of rupees have been laundered in the Commonwealth Games, nor that out of the 103 flats meant for war widows, only three went to them, but that nobody believes that the guilty would ever be brought to book or justice done.

On India’s independence Winston Churchil said, “Power will go to the hands of rascals, rogues and freebooters. All Indian leaders will be of low caliber and men of straw. They will have sweet tongues and silly hearts. They will fight among themselves for power and India will be lost in political squabbles.”

SANJANA SAKSENA

What did CM Ashok Chavan whisper in President Obama’s ears when he greeted him; “Sir would you like a sea side flat at Colaba. Obama may be bless fully unaware of the Adarsh Scam nor has he heard of the general, but he, of course, has heard of Suresh Kalmadi, especially after the TOI cartoon depicting Kalmadi introducing Obama as President Osama, to the utter horror of Mrs Sonia Gandhi and Manmohan Singh.

ARANI BASU

Three cheers to the three musketeers of corruption- Kalmadi, Chavan, and General Kapoor.

SHREYA JAI

Padmashree for corruption

May I suggest that the coveted Padma awards be given to the following three-

1. Suresh Kalmadi, the idol of Corrupt, who had the audacity to divert tax- payer’s money worth 2000 crore

2. Ashok Chavan, the real estate agent of Maharashtra who is also the Chief Minister

3. Gen. Deepak Kapoor, the real patron of Kargil widows and Orphans